Grozny : Chechens Mourn Their Market
28 November 2000

GROZNY, Russia (AP) - Weeping merchants dug through the ruins of the central market in the capital of rebel Chechnya on Tuesday, trying to salvage something after Russian military vehicles smashed the stalls into the ground.

Russian authorities had no immediate comment on the decision to destroy the market, a key source of scarce food and supplies in the war-shattered city that also provides income for thousands of traders trying to struggle their way out of poverty.

"I had goods there worth about $1,500 - for me that is a lot,'' said trader Zharadat Agayeva. "I don't know how I am going to pay my debts.''

Rebel attacks in the capital and elsewhere in Chechnya have been on the rise, with at least 10 soldiers being killed in the past day, and pro-Russian Chechen officials had warned that bigger actions were being planned for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which began Monday.

Russian troops sealed off the Grozny market on Sunday, apparently fearing that its presence in the tense capital could assist the rebels in their attacks.

According to market workers, the soldiers drove people out of the area, but told the traders their food, clothes and other goods would be protected once they were placed in the market storerooms.

"But when I locked everything, they started to shoot the locks off with machine guns. Soldiers rushed inside and pilfered the shelves: sausages, butter, cheese,'' said Musa Akhmatov, owner of a storeroom.

Another storeroom worker, Tarkhan Sultayev, said soldiers "picked whatever they liked and would stash the goods in their bags, they would even undress and put on the new clothes.''

On Monday, armored personnel carriers and other military vehicles drove into the market and smashed down the rows of makeshift kiosks and stalls. No injuries were reported, although traders said soldiers hit some of them with rifle butts.

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By LYOMA TURPALOV, Associated Press Writer